CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
cod. 15655

Academic year 2016/17
3° year of course - Second semester
Professor
Academic discipline
Microbiologia e microbiologia clinica (MED/07)
Field
Scienze biomediche
Type of training activity
Basic
42 hours
of face-to-face activities
6 credits
hub:
course unit
in - - -

Learning objectives

The course aims to enable the student to know and understand the
principles and practice of the main methods for the laboratory diagnosis
of infections due to bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses of medical
interest, and provide the ability to apply in occupational contexts the
knowledge and understanding acquired in the specific field.

Prerequisites

Passing examinations of Microbiology I and Clinical Microbiology II year of
degree

Course unit content

In the first lesson of the course the principles of the laboratory diagnosis of infections by bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses are treated, and the subdivision of diagnostic methods in relation to the detection target, the running time or investigation completion.
The other lessons are directed to the processing of the biological sample: transport, storage and preparation for the different laboratory investigations, and to the detailed description of conventional and rapid techniques for the direct and indirect laboratory diagnosis of infections caused by bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses.

Full programme

Bacteriology
- Techniques for the direct diagnosis of bacterial infections: microscopic
examination, cultural examination, identification, antigen detection
(agglutination, immunochromatographic, enzyme-linked immunosorbent,
immunofluorescence assays), nucleic acid detection (PCR, nPCR, real time
PCR, RFLP-PCR, LAMP in situ-hybridization.
- In vitro antibacterial susceptibility testing.
- Techniques for the indirect diagnosis of bacterial infections: antibody
detection by immunoenzymatic assay, western blotting, flocculation,
agglutination, immunofluorescence and immunodiffusion assays.
Micology
- Laboratory diagnosis of mycoses: microscopic and cultural
examinations. Procedures for identification of yeasts and moulds.
Molecular biology approaches. Serological procedures.
Methods for antifungal susceptibility testing.
Parasitology
- Principles of the laboratory diagnosis of infections with Trichomonas
vaginalis and free-living amoebae.
- Principles of laboratory diagnosis of infestation:
Cestodes(Diphyllobothrium latum, Taenia solium, Taenia saginata,
Echinococcus), nematodes (Ascaris lumbricoides, Strongyloides
stercoralis, Enterobius vermicularis, Trichinella spiralis), trematodes
(Schistosomes).
Virology
- Techniques for preparing clinical samples for virological investigations.
- Techniques for electron microscopy, cell culture (rapid and
conventional methods), identification of cytopathogenic agents, antigen
detection (agglutination test, immunochromatographic, enzyme
immunoassay -E.I.A., E.L.F.A, immunofluorescence) nucleic acid detection
(PCR, nPCR and real time PCR), antibody detection (E.I.A., E.L.F.A.,
e m o a g g l u t i n a t i o n , i m m u n o f l u o r e s c e n c e , w e s t e r n b l o t t i n g ,
immunoblotting) for the laboratory diagnosis of the major viral infections
of enteric tract (due to rotavirus, norovirus, adenovirus, enterovirus),
respiratory tract (due to influenza, parainfluenza, respiratory sincytial
viruses, adenovirus, bocavirus, metapneumovirus, cytomegalovirus), urogenital
tract (due to adenovirus, BK virus, cytomegalovirus, herpes
simplex virus, papillomavirus), skin and mucous membranes (due to
enterovirus, herpes simplex virus, human herpesvirus 6, human
herpesvirus 8, measles virus, papillomavirus, parvovirus B19, rubella
virus, varicella/zoster virus), liver (due to hepatitis A, B, C, D and E
viruses), eyes (due to adenovirus, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus,
varicella/zoster virus), lymphoid and hematopoietic systems (due to
adenovirus, BK virus, herpesviruses, human immunodeficiency virus, JC
virus, parvovirus B19), nervous system (due to adenovirus, enterovirus,
herpesviruses, JC virus, measles virus, rubella virus, parvovirus B19,
Toscana virus)and of congenital, connatal and perinatal infections (due to
cytomegalovirus, rubella virus, varicella/zoster virus, parvovirus, herpes
simplex virus, hepatitis B virus, human immunodeficiency virus,
papillomavirus, enterovirus) and arbovirus infections (due to
Chikungunya, Dengue, West Nile, Toscana viruses).

Bibliography

Visual aids made available online;
MICROBIOLOGIA MEDICA – Gli agenti infettivi dell’uomo: biologia, azione
patogena, laboratorio. BATTERIOLOGIA. M. Bendinelli, C. Chezzi, G.
Dettori, N. Manca, G. Morace, L. Polonelli, M.A. Tufano. MONDUZZI
EDITORIALE. Anno 2006.
MICROBIOLOGIA MEDICA – Gli agenti infettivi dell’uomo: biologia, azione
patogena, laboratorio. MICOLOGIA. M. Bendinelli, C. Chezzi, G. Dettori, N.
Manca, G. Morace, L. Polonelli, M.A. Tufano. MONDUZZI EDITORIALE.
Tipo testo Testo
Anno 2005.
MICROBIOLOGIA MEDICA – Gli agenti infettivi dell’uomo: biologia, azione
patogena, laboratorio.. PARASSITOLOGIA .M. Bendinelli, A. Calderaro, C.
Chezzi, G. Dettori, N. Manca, G. Morace, L. Polonelli, M.A. Tufano.
MONDUZZI EDITORIALE. Anno 2012.
MICROBIOLOGIA MEDICA – Gli agenti infettivi dell’uomo: biologia, azione
patogena, laboratorio. VIROLOGIA. M. Bendinelli, C. Chezzi, G. Dettori, N.
Manca, G. Morace, L. Polonelli, M.A. Tufano. MONDUZZI EDITORIALE.
Anno 2007.

Teaching methods

Lectures accompanied by visual aids will be used to convey critical
information on the topics relating to the course content.

Assessment methods and criteria

Learning outcomes will be verified through an oral examination.
Questions on the topics relating to the course content will be used to test
the student’s knowledge and understanding in the field, and her/his
ability to apply the knowledge and understanding in occupational
contexts.

Other information

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